By Isaac Arkoh
Cape Coast, March,13, GNA – Some 52 feeder road projects out of a total of 121 projects in the Central Region, have been abandoned mainly due to delay in payments by government.
According to the Regional Department of Feeder Roads, 47 of the remaining projects were progressing but at a snail’s pace, whilst 22 had been substantially completed.
According to Mr Abudulai Braimah, the Regional Engineer of the Department, the projects were funded by COCOBOD through the Cocoa Roads and Road Fund, but funds had ceased since 2020.
Speaking at a staff durbar during a working visit by the Mr Eduamoah Ekow Payin Okyere, the Regional Minister on Wednesday, he said the delay in payments for work done was causing delay in project execution and lack of logistics for supervision.
He said the projects extended into a total of 934 km of which 159 km had been done at a cost of GHC2.4 billion.
As well, he said five other major bridges costing GHC47.8 million had been partially completed to ease commuting challenges.
The bridges are in Mfantseman, Agona East, Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam, Assin North and Twifo Atti-Morkwa Districts.
Of the 3,150 km of feeder roads in the region, Mr Braimah said only 20 percent had bitumen surface, 60 percent had gravel surface and 20 were earth surface.
In terms of road conditions, he said 25 percent were good, 38 percent were fair, and 37 percent poor.
However, with a staff strength of 16, he assured of their commitment to ensure safe all weather accessible feeder roads at optimum cost to facilitate the movement of people, goods and services.
He assured that with funding, 80 percent of rural communities in the region could access a feeder road within two km radius at optimum cost.
They would also ensure routine maintenance was done to prevent deterioration of roads, cutting grasses, reshaping, pothole patching and construction of bridges.
For his part, the Central Regional Minister urged the Department of Feeder Roads to ensure high-quality road construction and maintenance to prevent rapid deterioration shortly after completion.
He lamented the financial burden on the government caused by frequent repairs and emphasised the need for strict monitoring to guarantee value for money.
They should as well resist corruption and prioritise accountability in their operations to ensure state resources were put to good use.
GNA
AT/GRB